Soundcore Rave 3S review: JBL PartyBox killer?

The Soundcore Rave 3S isn’t just another party speaker. Not only does it pump out 200 watts of power and feature a customizable light show, but thanks to its unique AI-driven vocal removal feature, it also lets you strip vocals from your favorite songs so that you’re the only one singing along. Grab one of its included wireless microphones, pull up some lyrics, and you’ve got everything you need for a full-blown karaoke party.

After belting out a few tunes, feeling its hefty bass response, and being pleasantly surprised by the price, I’m convinced the Rave 3S offers the best bang for your buck in the party speaker market. So, let’s take a closer look at what makes it stand out in this Soundcore Rave 3S review.

What you need to know about the Soundcore Rave 3S

Booming bass and light show aside, which is almost standard for a party speaker on the market these days, the coolest thing about the Rave 3S is its ability to remove the vocals from just about any song on your karaoke party playlist. With just the push of a button, I was surprised at how well this feature works, as annoying as it was for my co-workers to hear me doing my best Frank Sinatra from the next room over.

Hit that AI vocal removal button, grab a mic, and just like that, you’re center stage—no actual singing ability required. Now, it’s not always flawless; sometimes, I can still hear faint backup vocals, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But after testing a few classic karaoke tracks, I found it removes most, if not all, of the lead vocals. Anything left over gets drowned out once someone starts singing anyway.

The result? Tons of fun, laughs, and a great way to take your party to the next level. Of course, not everyone may have the confidence to hold the mic and let it rip, but Soundcore has you covered in the app if you need a little help or encouragement slaying your best rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” at your next backyard BBQ.

The Soundcore app is your virtual “sound guy”

Kudos to Soundcore for including a feature-packed companion app for the Rave 3S. The app provides a graphic EQ to customize the speaker’s sound. You can also adjust the dynamics of its light show, including turning them off entirely if you want to save some battery. As mentioned, it’s also there to help you out when the party hits karaoke o’clock.

You can adjust the strength of the vocal removal feature, allowing you to hear a little more or a little less of the lead vocals on your chosen song. So, if you need a little guidance when it comes to phrasing and timing, you can let a bit more of the original vocal line in to help you out. Alternatively, the mics still work without the vocal removal feature if you want to practice ahead of time or sing a duet with your favorite crooner straight up.

Lastly, it’s no secret that almost every vocalist relies on a bit (or a lot) of reverb to add some depth or space to their sound. Vocals can sound relatively dry and nearly lifeless without it, especially lead vocals. Again, the app has you covered. It provides you with four different types of reverb, and you can adjust its intensity either right there in the app or on the physical knob located on the control panel on the top of the speaker’s enclosure.

Wired connection options

Now, your karaoke party doesn’t have to stop with just singing. On the back of the unit, you’ll find another control panel. Buskers take note here. There’s a 1/4” input jack for a second mic or even an electric guitar, with its own impedance switch and gain control. And if you’re still rocking wired connections, they’ve got you covered with a 3.5mm Aux input, too—with its own volume control. Lastly, the Rave 3S charges via USB-C and doesn’t rely on a proprietary AC cable.

Party-worthy sound with plenty of “thump”

As mentioned, the Rave 3S pushes 200W of output. It sports a 6.5-inch woofer and three 2.5-inch full-range drivers behind the grill. With BassUP mode engaged, it delivers plenty of low-end strength that easily gets your guests moving without any audible distortion at higher volumes.

Bass-heavy tunes like “bad guy” by Billie Eilish and “Lose yourself to Dance” by Daft Punk absolutely thump with the Rave 3S, all while maintaining good clarity in the high end, so you can still hear the accompanying finger snaps and hand claps in the mix.

Thanks to its thorough EQ options, you can also customize the sound of your Rave 3S in the Soundcore app, but I’m pretty happy with how the Rave 3S sounds directly out of the box. Once BassUP mode is engaged, of course.

Should you buy the Anker Soundcore Rave 3S?

The Rave 3S rocks, delivering a feature-packed, party-ready performance at a price that’s hard to beat. This speaker brings serious party vibes with tons of customization—whether it’s sound, lighting, or dialing in just the right amount of reverb while you channel your inner Freddie Mercury. Plus, it includes two wireless microphones, making it an even better deal for a budget-friendly party speaker.

In terms of power, it sits between the JBL PartyBox 120 and PartyBox Stage 320, but at $349, it costs less than both. And unlike JBL’s PartyBox speakers, which lack vocal removal features and charge an extra $100 for a single wireless mic, this Soundcore rig gets you way more party for your dollar.

So, if you entertain often and are looking for a party speaker to set the vibe with, whether it’s a backyard BBQ, a tailgater before the big game, or just a basement shin-dig, consider the Soundcore Rave 3S. It’s a blast.

Anker Soundcore Rave 3S review: FAQs